India, South Africa, Brazil Begin Joint Naval Exercise

The BRICS countries minus the big superpowers China and Russia are taking
stock of their military preparedness and engaging in joint naval and military
exercises. The Indian Navy is currently conducting the IBSAMAR military
exercise which also includes Brazil and South Africa. This is the fifth edition
of this particular exercise, which has always been conducted off South African
waters thus far. The exercise will begin on February 19, Friday, and will
continue till February 29, Monday.

According to a statement from the Indian Navy, the exercise is essentially
geared towards anti-submarine warfare, surface and air-to-air missile defenses,
search and seizure operations and search and rescue operations. Ships, aircraft
carriers, planes, helicopters and submarines are involved in this huge
exercise.

IBSAMAR began in 2006, and is only one of many military exercises that India
is engaging in. Besides its bilateral exercises with the United States, and
trilateral operations with Japan and Australia, India also conducted its second
international fleet review recently, in which 55 countries including China,
South Africa and the United States were present. This heightened exercise
calendar is due in part to threats to India's security from China, and its
desire to become a global arms manufacturing hub and exporter. India also was
present at the recent Bahrain Airshow, where it showed off its indigenously
built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

South Africa is meanwhile flexing its muscles and trying to grow independent
of China's clout, on which it is highly dependent financially. South Africa's
economy is staggering under economic downturn and its military funding is being
cut year-by-year. It is looking for cheaper sources for arms and gear. South
Africa has always emphasized a strong military as a deterrent towards other
nations. Even the country's first President Nelson Mandela repeatedly spoke
about the need for a strong military in independent South Africa. In fact, as
President of the African National Congress in the 1960s, before he was
imprisoned under the apartheid regime for 27 years, Mandela referred to the
need for a strong armed force to ensure the nation's sovereignty in the current
atmosphere of the world. One of
Mandela's quotes about freedom also speaks of military.

The IBSAMAR military exercises involving India, Brazil and South Africa
began, for the first time off the west coast of India, Friday, the Indian Navy
said in a statement. According to the statement, the exercises will end on
February 29. The exercises are taking place close to Goa. "The thrust of
exercises at sea this year would be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface
firings, Air Defences, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Flying
Operations, Search and Rescue and tactical procedures," the statement reads.
The three countries began holding the IBSAMAR exercises in 2006. This is the
fifth round of the drills. All previous exercises were held in South Africa.
This year, the IBSAMAR exercises will involve ships, submarines, aircraft and
special forces.